2024-11-17
Matthew 4:16 NKJV
First and most importantly, Jesus brought the light of salvation to all mankind. But one of the enduring benefits of His kingdom is His impact on learning and education. The word university began with those who believed that God created the universe; therefore, His ways must be studied and known. Martin Luther highlighted from the New Testament the priesthood of all believers. In the process, he changed education because he taught that every person needs to be capable of reading and writing so they can study the Scriptures for themselves. This ushered in a goal of worldwide literacy for everyone in a society.
In America, the first law to call for mass universal education was announced in Massachusetts in 1647. It was named, believe it or not, “The Old Deluder Satan Act.” Its wording goes: “It being one chief product of that Old Deluder Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures… and to the end that learning may not be buried in the graves of our forefathers.” This is a lovely idea that everybody should learn: that ignorance is the devil’s tool, and that God is the God of truth.
In nation after nation, Christian missionaries discovered languages that had not been written. So in acts of extraordinary sacrifice, they dedicated their lives to the chore. They assembled the first dictionaries. They penned the first grammars. They formed the first alphabets. And the first significant proper name written in numerous languages was the name Jesus.
Soul food: Dan 1:3-21; Dan 5:11-12; Dan 6:10-28; Dan 9:1-19
2024-11-16
Matthew 10:32 NKJV
To share your faith effectively with others, you must overcome these three obstacles.
(1) You must be sure of your own salvation. John writes: “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself… And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son… These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:10-11, 13 NKJV).
(2) You must get over your fear of rejection. That means getting to the root of your fear, which is ego. Only when self-preservation and self-interest are crucified can you make Christ known without fear. Jesus said, “Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me” (John 13:20 NIV). Get over yourself! If someone rejects you, you may lose face. But if they reject Jesus, they will lose their soul.
(3) You must use wisdom in sharing the gospel. “He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). God can work on both ends of the line. He can prepare the heart of your listener so that they’re open to what you have to say, and He can give you the right words and the right approach to talk to them. Jesus said, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26 NIV).
Soul food: Rom 12-14; John 11:1-16; Ps 105:1-15; Prov 30:1-4
2024-11-15
Matthew 4:19 KJV
Jesus told professional fishermen, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” These men knew three things about catching fish:
(1) You must go where the fish are. You say, “I thought we were supposed to separate ourselves from the world.” Jesus didn’t avoid the culture; He engaged it in order to change it. And you must do the same. Jesus prayed: “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:15-18 NKJV).
(2) You must be ready when the fish are biting. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV). The saying, “When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear,” is a true saying.
(3) You must use the right bait to catch fish. Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16 NKJV). The word “gospel” means good news. Honest sinners already feel bad about their sins and struggles; what they need is the power to change. And “the gospel… is the power of God to salvation.”
Keep these three principles clearly in mind, and today go fishing for souls.
Soul food: Rom 9:17-11:36; John 10:22-42; Ps 83:9-18; Prov 29:23-27
2024-11-14
Hebrews 11:34 NIV
Persistence and a refusal to abandon your vision kept you coming back and back and back again until you finally succeeded. Try to imagine what life would be like without the light bulb or the polio vaccine. Yet Thomas Edison and Jonas Salk lived through endless chapters of trial and failure before they succeeded. Successful people take note of their failures and learn from them. They examine them carefully, work out what went wrong, and use them to correct their errors going forward.
So often, we begin new projects with excitement and enthusiasm. The newness of what we are doing compels us to keep moving forward. Then something goes wrong, and we stop. The project looked easier than it turned out to be, and we are not prepared to work at it and stay at it, so we quit. But quitters don’t win, and winners don’t quit.
And as a redeemed child of God, you have a big plus: “My help comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:2 NKJV). Think about that! With the Lord of every situation and circumstance helping you, you will eventually prevail. You have a source of unfailing strength and guidance to draw on. Moses lived through criticism, betrayal, and constant complaining, yet he led the greatest migration of people in the history of mankind. How did he do it?
The Bible gives us the answer in two phrases: “He was looking ahead to his reward… he persevered because he saw him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:26-27 NIV). So keep your eyes on the Lord, keep looking ahead to your promised reward, and you will win.
Soul food: Rom 7:1-9:16; John 10:11-21; Ps 83:1-8; Prov 29:19-22
2024-11-13
Proverbs 27:1 NLT
Unexpected events can knock us off our feet. And while some of us get knocked down and out, others get back up and go on. They refuse to accept defeat as being permanent. They’re like the man who said, “I’m never down; I’m either up, or I’m getting up.” They see everything that happens in life as a learning experience. Losing a loved one is heart breaking, but it can also be a wake-up call to live every day of your life to the fullest. Losing a job can be traumatic, but it can also bring to the surface talents and abilities you never knew you had. Struggling to overcome a bad habit can lead to reprioritizing your life and instituting healthy habits.
You can prepare for the worst by saving money for emergencies, taking classes about new products and technology, keeping your relationships and contacts current so when you need to call someone for help, someone will willingly pick up the phone. Doing so is like having a spare tire and tools in your trunk for changing a flat. You hope you never need to use them, but you keep them ready to go in the event you hit a bump in the road.
Above all, keep your relationship with God in good repair! “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24 NIV).
Soul food: Rom 3:21-6:23; John 10:1-10; Ps 133; Prov 29:15-18
2024-11-12
Romans 12:11 NIV
Just as an EKG can measure the health of our physical heart and blockages that can threaten it, it’s helpful to have an instrument that can measure the level of our zeal, commitment, and wholeheartedness when it comes to serving the Lord. The following six questions will do just that:
(1) Do I talk openly and frequently about my commitment to Christ in order to create a kind of public accountability for my actions?
(2) Do I accept the responsibility to grow? Do I read books and practice skills and get together with those farther down the road who can help me improve?
(3) Do I complain about problems in a way that cleverly rationalizes a half-hearted involvement?
(4) Do I handle discouragements by talking with God and requesting strength to persevere?
(5) Do I acknowledge and celebrate even my small steps in the right direction?
(6) The apostle Paul writes, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Zeal describes passion, persistence, and power. And these are things I am able to track and guard. Am I honest about my level of zeal these days? When my zeal is flagging, do I take steps to renew it?
Think about each of these questions carefully and prayerfully. Be honest with God and with yourself. And if you don’t like the answers, decide today to take action. Spend more time alone with God in prayer and reading His Word. Having a burning zeal for God is like tending a fire; it requires constant fueling and maintenance. And no one else can do that for you.
Soul food: Rom 1:1-3:20; John 9:24-41; Ps 99; Prov 29:11-14
